| Title | Cleaning up of Singapore River and Kallang Basin |
|---|
| Country | Singapore |
|---|
| Area | |
|---|
| Province | |
|---|
| Implementation level | National level |
|---|
| Duration/Year | 1977-1986 |
|---|
| Contact Person(1)/Focal Point for Enquiry Contact | Name | |
|---|
Affiliation | |
Address | |
TEL | |
FAX | |
E-mail |
|
| Sponsor(s) | 1) Amount
S$200 million
2) Source(s) of funds
Government of Singapore
3) Efforts to raise/sustain funds for implementation
N/A |
|---|
| Actors involved | Central Government
Private Sector
Non-governmental organisations |
|---|
| Description of the Practice | SectionA:Background & Objectives | Singapore River and Kallang Basin catchments cover about one-fifth of Singapore's total land area. Since the founding of Singapore in 1819, Singapore River had been the life line of trading and business activities. With rapid population growth and urbanization over the years, the waterways leading to the Singapore River and Kallang Basin degenerated into an open sewer and rubbish dump as all forms of waste were indiscriminately discharged into them.
The main sources of water pollution in the rivers were squatter colonies, backyard industries, street hawkers and vegetable wholesalers, and pig and duck farms. There were sewerage facility for these premises and wastewater was discharged directly into the river. There were also people living on board lighters in the river. Waste from these lighters were dumped into the river.
By 1977, the water in the Singapore River was black, foul smelling and devoid of aquatic life. The river was dead. |
|---|
| SectionB:Outline of Practices/Actions | 1) Objective of the practice
To clean up the rivers such that clean water can flow in our rivers and support aquatic life.
2) Outline of the practice
The Ministry of the Environment drew up an Action Plan in 1977. The plan included resettlement of more than 16,000 families living in squatter colonies into public housing estates served by public sewerage system and waste storage and removal facilities, and the relocation of 2,800 pollutive backyard trade industries to new industrial workshops in new industrial estates. About 5,000 street hawkers were relocated into food centers premises provided with public sewer and waste disposal facilities. Some 610 pig farms and 500 duck farms were either phased out or relocated to other areas. Pollutive industries and trades were also resited to other areas with proper pollution control facilities. In addition, extension and provision of sewer facilities were extended to the entire Singapore River and Kallang Basin catchment.
After the sources of pollution were removed, work was started to improve the physical appearance of the rivers. The river was dredged to remove tonnes of bental deposit at the riverbed. Quay steps and rubble along the river waterfront that had deteriorated were repaired. The riverside walkway along the Singapore River were tiled, turfed and filled with bushes to add colour and greenery to the riverside scene.
Physical improvements to the 3km stretch of the beach along the Kallang Basin were also carried out. Facilities such as river walls, piers, shelters and benches were provided to turn the surrounding area into a riverside park.
3) Stakeholders involved
The project was spearheaded by the Ministry of the Environment. Action Programmes were formulated and submitted to Cabinet for approval. A high-level Working Committee comprising various government ministries and statutory boards was set up to look into the implementation and monitoring of the action programmes. Besides government agencies, the 10-year project of Cleaning up Singapore River and Kallang Basin involved grassroots and civic organization, business community and NGOs. |
|---|
| SectionC:Results/Outcomes | Singapore and Kallang Basin were cleaned up by 1987. The foul odour from Singapore River is history. Aquatic life has returned to the rivers. The next task was to manage and control pollution. Because of the high degree of urbanisation, problems such as littering and sullage water discharge still remain. To keep the rivers clean, engineering measures were adapted to minimise pollution of the rivers. Vertical gratings were installed at selected outlet drains leading to main canals and rivers to prevent litter and debris inside the drains from entering the canals and rivers. In addition, float booms were installed at strategic locations in rivers and canals to prevent litter and debris in the rivers and canals from entering the Kallang Basin and Singapore River. The debris trapped by the gratings and booms are removed for disposal daily. Programmes were also carried out to educate the public against littering and the discharge of wastes in to the rivers.
Another key factor in water pollution control is the effective enforcement of legislation. Regular inspections are conducted to ensure that all wastewater is discharged into the sewerage system and trade effluent treatment facilities installed by industries are properly and efficiently operated and maintained. |
|---|
| Keys for success(cause of failure) | The success of the project can be attributed to the following factors:
i) introduction of an environmental management strategy - i.e. prevention, enforcement, monitoring and education
ii) implementation of land use planning - i.e. ensure that developments are properly sited and are compatible with surrounding land uses to achieve a quality environment
iii) putting in place comprehensive environmental infrastructure, such as the sewerage system and refuse collection system
iv) putting in place legislative instrument and enforcement measures as well as monitoring programmes
v) cultivating an environmentally conscious population through environmental education
vi) cooperation amongst the various government agencies implementing the various programmes e.g. provision of public housing and industrial workshops, relocation of farms, etc.
vii) ownership of Singapore River and Kallang Basin by the 3P (People, Private and Public) sectors.
Above all, the critical factor for the success of cleaning up of Singapore River and Kallnag Basin is the political will of the government. |
|---|
| Evaluation | After 10 years of cleanup, the project was finally completed in 1987. A cleaner environment, cleaner water and the return of aquatic life are what we have achieved after the cleanup.
The clean rivers have now been harnessed for recreational uses, and the land along the rivers has been developed for commercial and residential uses. Several areas along the rivers have become interesting recreational areas for both tourists and locals.
With careful land use planning, land for various uses is safeguarded to achieve social and economic development and to maintain a quality environment. Environmental controls have been factored into the land use planning to help ensure that developments are properly sited and are compatible with surrounding land uses.
To ensure sustainability of clean water in the rivers, Singapore continues to plan, coordinate and implement programmes to prevent pollution from entering into the rivers. In addition, Singapore launched the Singapore Green Plan 2012 (SGP 2012) in 2002 to set down clear targets to enable Singapore to strive for environmental sustainability. |
|---|
| Applicability | The project can be used as a model for the rapidly developing and urbanised cities. It contains many case studies ranging from social, economic and environmental issues that these cities can adopt or modify to suit their needs.
The project was a complex and massive one that planned 10 years. |
|---|
| Reference | Clean Rivers - produced jointly by the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Education |
|---|
| Sectoral Issues | Freshwater
Renewable Energy |
|---|
| Cross-Sectoral Issues | Environmental Governance |
|---|
| Instruments | Regulations
Standards
Guidelines
Participation
Awareness
Design, Planning and Management |
|---|
| Provider of this information(1) | Name | Prof. Simon Tay |
|---|
Organisation | |
Position | |
Contact | |
TEL | |
FAX | |
E-mail |
|
|